PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE SEPAROVIC VISITS VUKOVAR

VUKOVAR, Jan 20 (Hina) - Independent presidential candidate Zvonimir Separovic held an election rally in the eastern Croatian town of Vukovar on Thursday. Addressing the gathered at Eltz castle, which was damaged in the war, Separovic said that "Croats have to pull themselves together in order to be able to face new challenges and preserve their achievements." Separovic also supported a better care for Homeland War victims as well as reconstruction and refugee return. "For the sake of justice and history we must not stop spreading the truth about Vukovar. It was and is the deepest Croatian wound," said Separovic, adding, however, that "Vukovar is not mentioned any more, nor does the world recognise the Croatian sacrifice or want to punish the Vukovar executioners." He expressed hope that the new government would not annul the claim he had submitted against Yugoslavia for aggression on Croatia. Speaking about the "intention of the new government" to reconsider Croatia's relations with the Hague Tribunal, Separovic said the Tribunal's "interfering" into Croatia's "justified military- police actions" was inappropriate. (hina) rml